#SAHARA SOLAR INITIATIVE FOR GLOBAL ENERGY, DEVELOPMENT, AND SPACE EXPLORATION (2025–2040)

Proposed by: Nelu Preda, Retired Engineer, Romania

Project Duration: 15 years (2025–2040)

Nelu Preda

8 min read

·

Sep 17, 2025

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Sahara Solar Initiative is a transformative 15-year project that leverages the Sahara Desert’s solar potential to generate clean energy, electrify Africa, develop infrastructure, establish industrial hubs in the USA, and advance space exploration. Starting with 50,236 km² of photovoltaic panels in the Sahara (Western Coast: Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal), the project expands to cover the entire Sahara (9.2 million km²) by 2040, producing 5,520,000 TWh/year. The initiative will electrify Africa, eliminate U.S. external debt, create millions of jobs, reduce global emissions, stabilize Africa through equitable joint-ventures, and position the USA as the global leader in energy and space technology via laser-powered orbital launches.

PROJECT PHASES AND INTERDEPENDENT COMPONENTS

Phase 1: Initial Deployment and African Electrification (2025–2030)
*- Objective: Establish a photovoltaic array in the Sahara and electrify Africa while fostering local development and U.S. strategic influence.

· Actions:

· Sahara Solar Array (50,236 km²):

· Deploy 50,236 km² of photovoltaic panels along the Western Sahara coast (Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal), generating 19,190 TWh/year at 382 GWh/km² (Energysage.com).

· Cost: $50.236 billion ($1 million/km²).

· Production Allocation: 17,110 TWh/year to the USA, 2,000 TWh/year to Africa, 80 TWh/year to host countries.

· Profit: $2,878.5 billion/year at $0.15/kWh.

· African Electrification and Cooling:

· Electrify Africa with 2,000 TWh/year, covering 100% of its energy needs by 2030: “Africa has 60% of the world’s best solar resources”).

· Install cooling systems in 100 million African homes using groundwater and Chinese fan coil units at $130/home, financed in affordable $10/month installments over 13 months (Made-in-China.com).

· Energy for cooling: 29.2 TWh/year.

· Cost: $13 billion, financed from profits.

· Infrastructure Development:

· Reinvest $1,000 billion/year from profits into African infrastructure: transportation (roads, railways, ports), energy grids, sanitation, housing, and communications (“Infrastructure development… critical enabler”).

· Jobs: 4 million temporary (5 years, $48 billion/year in wages), 500,000 permanent ($6 billion/year).

· Joint-Ventures for Resource Extraction:

· Establish 50–50 joint-ventures with Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal to extract resources (lithium, cobalt, phosphates: “Africa holds… 54% of global cobalt reserves”).

· Investment: $200 billion/year.

· Profit: $100 billion/year, shared equally.

· Jobs: 1 million ($12 billion/year in wages).

· Outcomes:

· Economic: 5.5 million jobs in Africa, $66 billion/year in wages, $100 billion/year profit from resources.

· Social: 100 million homes cooled, reduced corruption through transparent joint-ventures, stabilized Africa (“A new paradigm is needed”).

· Strategic: U.S. influence strengthened.*

Phase 2: Industrial Expansion in the USA (2026–2035)
*- Objective: Use energy and resources to establish industrial hubs in the USA, creating jobs and value-added products.

· Actions:

· Chlor-Alkali Plant in Salt Lake City (2026):

· Build a plant producing 500,000 tons/year of chlorine and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) using Great Salt Lake’s sodium chloride.

· Cost: $2 billion.

· Energy: 1.25 TWh/year (from Sahara solar).

· Jobs: 10,000 temporary (3 years, $1.8 billion in wages), 3,000 permanent ($180 million/year).

· Profit: $400 million/year.

· Soap Factory in Salt Lake City (2027):

· Use 100,000 tons/year of NaOH and 200,000 tons/year of sustainable palm oil from Africa to produce 300,000 tons/year of soap (Ulei de palmier Angajamentul nostru de sustenabilitate Nutella®).

· Cost: $500 million.

· Jobs: 5,000 temporary (2 years, $600 million in wages), 2,000 permanent ($120 million/year), 10,000 in Africa ($200 million/year).

· Profit: $300 million/year.

· Vaseline and Lubricants Factory in Salt Lake City (2028):

· Use 50,000 tons/year of NaOH and hydrocarbons (spared from burning due to solar energy) to produce 150,000 tons/year of vaseline (Vaselină — Wikipedia).

· Expand to produce 25,000 tons/year of lithium grease and 35,000 tons/year of MoS₂-additivated vaseline/oil for aviation (Molykote 44MA Grease, Xenum.com).

· Cost: $300 million (vaseline) + $100 million (expansion).

· Jobs: 3,000 temporary (2 years, $360 million in wages), 1,000 permanent ($60 million/year), 500 additional permanent ($30 million/year), 2,000 in Africa ($40 million/year).

· Profit: $300 million/year (vaseline) + $265 million/year (lubricants).

· Research Centers in Morocco and Romania (2027):

· Establish centers to develop solar technology (efficiency from 20% to 25% by 2030, Ratedpower.com).

· Cost: $1 billion each.

· Jobs: 5,000 temporary (3 years, $180 million in wages in Romania, $120 million in Morocco), 2,000 permanent in each ($24 million/year in Romania, $40 million/year in Morocco).

· Outcomes:

· Economic: 25,500 jobs in the USA ($390 million/year in wages), 12,000 in Africa ($240 million/year), 7,000 in Romania/Morocco ($64 million/year), $1.265 billion/year profit.

· U.S. Industry: Supports automotive, aviation, and consumer goods sectors (Xenum.com: “Molybdenum-based oils in… aircraft engines”).*

Phase 3: Full Sahara Expansion and Space Programs (2035–2040)
*- Objective: Cover the entire Sahara with photovoltaics, become the world’s largest electricity producer, and advance space exploration.

· Actions:

· Full Sahara Coverage (9.2 million km² by 2040):

· Expand from 50,236 km² to 9.2 million km², generating 4,140,000 TWh/year by 2040 at 450 GWh/km² (improved efficiency via research centers).

· Cost: $9,150 billion (9.15 million km² at $1 million/km²), financed from accumulated profits ($28,177.5 billion over 15 years).

· Jobs: 45 million temporary (15 years, $540 billion/year in wages), 5 million permanent ($60 billion/year).

· Panel Replacement and Efficiency Gains (2040–2050):

· Replace initial panels by 2050 (end of 25-year lifespan, Ratedpower.com: “80% to 92% efficiency after 25 years”).

· New panels (2050): 600 GWh/km² efficiency (30% yield, Greenlancer.com), 40-year lifespan, cost $500,000/km² (Ourworldindata.org: “Solar panel prices have fallen by around 20%”).

· Total production (2050): 5,520,000 TWh/year.

· Replacement cost: $25.118 billion (50,236 km²).

· Jobs: 250,000 temporary (5 years, $3 billion/year in wages).

· Profit: $745,200 billion/year.

· Space Programs with Laser Beaming (2040–2050):

· Use surplus electricity (5,455,000 TWh/year in 2050, after global demand of 65,000 TWh/year) for orbital launches via laser beaming: “Space Wireless Energy Laser Link”).

· Launches: 545,500/year (10 GWh/launch).

· Revenue: $545.5 billion/year ($1 million/launch, reduced cost via laser).

· Outcomes:

· Economic: 50.25 million jobs in Africa ($603 billion/year in wages), $745,200 billion/year profit (2050).

· Strategic: USA becomes the world’s largest electricity producer and space leader.

· Environmental: Replaces fossil fuels globally, reduces desertification (Globaltimes.cn: “Vegetation planted under the panels”).*

Additional U.S. Investments
*- Coastal Hydropower in Florida and California (2026):

· Build 10 plants (2 GW total, 8 TWh/year) to harness tides and enhance coastal safety.

· Cost: $5 billion.

· Jobs: 20,000 temporary (3 years, $3.6 billion in wages), 2,000 permanent ($120 million/year).

· Profit: $1.2 billion/year.

· Mississippi-to-Arizona Pipeline (2027):

· Construct pipelines to transport 5–10 billion m³/year of floodwater from the Mississippi River to Arizona, addressing water scarcity: “Arizona state legislature passed a measure in 2021 urging Congress to investigate”).

· Use the transported water for irrigation, municipal needs, and aquifer recharge, ensuring sustainable water management in Arizona.

· Cost: $10 billion (pipelines).

· Jobs: 84,000 temporary (3 years, $15.12 billion in wages, $60,000/year), 150,000 permanent in agriculture ($9 billion/year).

· Environmental Benefit: Reduces drought impact, supports agriculture: “Extreme drought in northern Arizona”).

· Strategic Benefit: Enhances U.S. food security and water independence.

· Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) in the Rocky Mountains (2028):

· Build 1,500 GW of PSH capacity to store excess solar energy, capturing 11,111 billion m³ of rainwater for irrigation and energy stability.

· Cost: $300 billion.

· Jobs: 500,000 temporary (5 years, $90 billion in wages, $60,000/year), 50,000 permanent ($3 billion/year).

· Environmental Benefit: Reduces erosion, supports agriculture: “All-electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions”).

· Energy Storage: Ensures grid reliability for the USA and Africa.*

Phase 4: Global Leadership and Sustainability (2040–2050 Outlook)
*- Objective: Establish the USA as the global leader in energy, space, and sustainability while ensuring the project’s long-term viability.

· Actions:

· Debt Elimination and Economic Stability (2035–2040):

· Use accumulated profits ($28,177.5 billion by 2040, after reinvestments) to eliminate U.S. external debt, enhancing economic sovereignty.

· Reinvest surplus profits into global green initiatives, education, and healthcare: “Boost growth, and reduce emissions”).

· Sustainability of Solar Array:

· By 2050, replace initial panels with next-generation models (600 GWh/km², 40-year lifespan, $500,000/km², Ratedpower.com, Greenlancer.com).

· Production increases to 5,520,000 TWh/year, ensuring energy supply exceeds global demand (65,000 TWh/year in 2050).

· Global Influence and Partnerships:

· Maintain 50–50 joint-ventures with African nations, securing resources (lithium, cobalt.

· Leverage African goodwill (electrification, cooling, infrastructure) to establish the USA as a preferred partner : “A new paradigm is needed”.*

PROJECT IMPACT (2025–2040)
*- Economic:

· Total Jobs: 55.714 million (50.25 million in Africa, 5.464 million in the USA/Romania/Morocco/China).

· Annual Wages: $693.72 billion (Africa: $660 billion, USA: $18 billion, Romania/Morocco: $6.72 billion, China: $240 million).

· Profit (2040): $2,879.65 billion/year (Sahara solar: $2,878.5 billion, U.S. industries: $1.265 billion, hydropower: $1.2 billion, joint-ventures: $100 billion, space launches: $407.5 billion by 2040).

· Profit (2050): $745,200 billion/year (post-expansion and panel upgrades).

· Social:

· Africa: 100 million homes cooled, 100% electrification, 4.5 million jobs from infrastructure, reduced corruption, and regional stability, (”Contributes significantly to human development”).

· USA: 5.464 million jobs, enhanced industrial capacity, and water/food security.

· Environmental:

· Replaces global fossil fuel use, reducing emissions.

· Mitigates desertification in the Sahara (Globaltimes.cn: “Vegetation planted under the panels”).

· Sustainable water management in the USA and Africa.

· Strategic:

· USA becomes the world’s largest electricity producer (5,520,000 TWh/year by 2050).

· Leads space exploration with 545,500 orbital launches/year.

· Secures African resources and influence*

INTERDEPENDENCIES
*- Energy Backbone: The Sahara solar array powers all components: African electrification/cooling (2,029.2 TWh/year), U.S. industries (1.25 TWh/year), PSH, and space launches (5,455,000 TWh/year surplus in 2050).

· African Development: Electrification, cooling, and infrastructure (financed by $1,000 billion/year) create jobs, reduce corruption, and stabilize the region, enabling joint-ventures for resources (lithium, cobalt, palm oil, MoS₂).

· U.S. Industrial Growth: Resources from Africa (palm oil, lithium, MoS₂) and solar energy enable the chlor-alkali plant, soap, vaseline, and lubricants factories in Salt Lake City, creating value-added products and jobs.

· Space Leadership: Surplus energy powers laser-beaming launches, positioning the USA as a space leader

· Sustainability: Research centers (Morocco, Romania) improve panel efficiency (450 GWh/km² by 2040, 600 GWh/km² by 2050), ensuring long-term viability (Ratedpower.com).*

IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE
*- 2025–2026: Deploy initial 50,236 km² of panels, start African electrification.

· 2026–2028: Build U.S. industrial hubs (chlor-alkali, soap, vaseline, lubricants), coastal hydropower, and PSH.

· 2027: Establish research centers in Morocco and Romania, begin cooling program in Africa.

· 2027–2030: Construct Mississippi-to-Arizona pipeline and African infrastructure.

· 2030–2040: Expand Sahara array to 9.2 million km², electrify Africa fully, scale joint-ventures, and initiate space launches.

· 2040–2050: Replace initial panels, increase production to 5,520,000 TWh/year, and expand space programs.*

FUNDING AND PROFIT ALLOCATION
*- Initial Investment (2025–2030): $380.236 billion (panels: $50.236 billion, U.S. industries: $2.9 billion, research centers: $2 billion, cooling: $13 billion, infrastructure/joint-ventures: $1,000 billion/year for 5 years, U.S. projects: $315 billion).

· Financing: Fully funded from profits ($2,878.5 billion/year starting 2026), with $1,000 billion/year reinvested in Africa.

· Profit (2040): $2,879.65 billion/year (net after reinvestments).

· Profit (2050): $745,200 billion/year, after full expansion and panel upgrades.*

RISKS AND MITIGATION
*- Corruption in Africa: Use transparent 50–50 joint-ventures, international audits (“Anti-bribery and compliance due diligence”).

· Geopolitical Tensions: Strengthen African goodwill through electrification, cooling, and infrastructure

· Technological Challenges: Research centers ensure panel efficiency and laser-beaming advancements

CONCLUSION
The Sahara Solar Initiative positions the USA as the global leader in energy, space, and sustainable development by 2040. It eliminates U.S. debt, creates 55.714 million jobs, reduces global emissions, stabilizes Africa, and secures strategic resources. The project’s interdependent components — solar energy, African development, U.S. industries, and space programs — create a holistic framework for a prosperous, sustainable future.

By, Eng. Nelu Preda